Mathias flammang



M. FLAMMANG.

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA.

Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

Ila/mien (N0 Model.)

My? W I T E w W 3 L t i E 8% Q I i i f UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

MATHIAS FLAMMANG, OF NEYVARK, NEXV JERSEY.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,664, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed February 24, 1885.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MA'rHIAs FLAMMANG, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Photographic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to photographic cameras and meansfor supporting and adjusting the same.

I will describe a photographic apparatus embodying my improvement, and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of aphotographic camera embodying my improvement. Figure 2 is an inverted or bottom View of the same, partly in section, and showing some of the parts in a different position from that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of a modification thereof, the parts being detached from the camera, and Fig. 4c is a transverse section thereof.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, Adesignates the camera. It is made with a front portion, a, and a rear portion, (1. Between the portions a and (4 extends a portion, a", of bellowslike construction, which provides for the adjustment of the rear portion, a, into different positions relatively to the portion a. All these various parts may be of the usual or any suitable construction.

The camera is supported upon a frame, B, arranged beneath the same. This frame B has secured to it near one end the front portion, a, of the camera byscrews or in any other suitable manner. It is composed of asection, b, and a section, b. The section 1) remains normally in position beneath the camera, but the section b may be folded up against the rear portion, a, of the camera, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. The sections 12 b of the frame are hinged together, as at b, to admit of this movement on the part of the section b. The section b is thus folded up for the purpose of rendering the camera compact for transportation. As shown, the frame B is provided with side rails, c, and center rails or reaches, 0 0 I have shown grooves or slideways (1 in the side rails, 0, upon the inner surfaces thereof. I have shown another groove,

6, upon the under side of the center rails or Serial No. 156,610. (No model.)

reaches, 0 0 Each of these grooves extends in the direction of the length of the frame.

0 is a securing-piece. As here shown, it consists of a Hat piece of metal. It need not necessarily be flat, however. Its side edges are arranged within the grooves or slideways d. A projectiomf, near the center thereof (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) enters the groove 0. Extending centrally through the projection f is an aperture, here shown as screw-threaded. This aperture is adapted to receive a screw upon a plate, 9, forming a portion of a tripod or stand, D, upon which the camera and its appurtenances are sup ported. By this means the tripod and camera are secured together. The object of the sccuring-piece O is to lock the sections I) I) of the frame B in approximately the same horizontal plane in order to furnish afirm support for the camera when distended. This is accomplished by moving the camera and frame in the direction indicated by the arrow The securing-piece is thus brought into the grooves or slideways d in both the sections b b of the frame B. The said two sections are thereby held secured together, and the section b cannot be swung upward against the rear of the camera so long as the securing-piece 0 remains within the grooves (Z in the section b. The end walls of the grooves d and e that are toward the rear of the camera constitute stops for limiting the distance which the frame B shall be moved upon the securingpicce. The securing-piece is unsecured to the rear portion of the camera.

Another advantage resulting from this form of securing device is that when in the position indicated in Fig. 2 the camera is quite centrally disposed upon the tripod, and is therefore more evenly balanced when thebcllows is distended than it. would otherwise be. In order to move the camera in the direction indicated by the arrow the breast of the operator may be placed against the rear end of the section I), when by pushing slightly the camera will be moved along.

The securing-piece of modified form (shown in Figs. 3 and A) is a bolt arranged within grooves or slideways (1 upon the outer side of one of the side rails, c. It may be moved to and fro by hand to secure and release the sec- ICC tions Z) Z) of the frame B. It is adapted to be moved back and forth within tubes or bushings 7i, rigidly secured to plates 1. The tubes or bushings h fit snugly within the grooves, g, and the plates 1 are secured to the side rail, 0, by screws or otherwise.

It will be seen that by my improvement the camera and frame of the securing-piece may be moved, so i to insure the lochir g of the fixed section and swinging section of the frame together without affecting the position of the camera relative to the frame.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a camera and a frame arranged beneath the same, having a fixed section and a swinging section, of a securing-piece unconnected with the rear portion of the camera, and grooves or slideway in the frame in which said securingpicce may slide, substantially as described, whereby by a relative rectilinear movement between the securingpiece and the frame the swinging section may be locked in line with the fixed section or unlocked therefrom without affecting the position of the camera relatively to the frame.

2. The combination, with a camera, of a frame arranged beneath the camera, having a fixed section and a swinging section, a securingpiece for locking the swingingsection and fixed section together, and a tripod fastened to the securing-piece.

3. The combination, with a camera, of a frame arranged beneath the camera, having a fixed section and. a swinging section, a securing-piece unconnected to the rear portion of M. FLAMMANG;

Witnesses:

i. J. KEANE, \VM. G. Lirsnv. 

